Anse Noire Necklace (#064)

...So many beautiful fish in the sea... wouldn't it be boring if they were all the same?

This one was a labor of love, to say the least. SO many different crystals & energies coming together... representing all the Chakras, all the energies in the universe... 

**Note: Our in-house designs are one-of-a-kind & numbered. There will never be another piece made that is identical.

• Abalone.
• Amethyst.
• Amazonite.
• Apatite.
• Black Lava Rock.
• Blue Lapis.
• Carnelian.
• Citrine.
• Coconut Shells.
• Green Jade.
• Howlite.
• Labradorite.
• Malachite.
• Moonstone.
• Mother of Pearl.
• Natural Shells.
• Peridot.
• Pink Coral.
• Purple Fluorite.
• Red Coral.
• Rhodonite.
• Rose Quartz.
• Serpentine.
• Turquoise.
• Sterling Silver clasp.
• One-of-a-kind.
• Designed & handmade in California.
• Inspired by a black sand beach in the French West Indies where a protected cove bordered by green hillsides makes for the perfect sunset swim.

Abalone Shells Used for trading in many indigenous cultures, evidence shows how black, red, & green Abalone shells were a focal point of trade in the ancient American southwest. Abalone shells are associated with strengthening love within relationships & fostering interpersonal harmony, releasing negative feelings & easing stressful situations. Abalone is also linked with Cancer, Scorpio, & Pisces zodiac signs, which are connected to emotions, intuition, & the subconscious mind.

Amethyst  Amethyst's name is derived from "amethystos," which means "not drunk" in Ancient Greek, because it was thought that amethysts would help a person maintain sharp wits in both business & battle. Commonly associated with royalty because of its purple coloring, Amethyst has been used to symbolize deep love, happiness, humility, sincerity, & wealth for centuries. It is associated with the 7th Chakra, also known as the Crown Chakra, located at the top of the head, which represents the energy & spiritual center of the body. Amethyst is also connected to the zodiac signs of Capricorn, Pisces, Aquarius, & Virgo.

Amazonite For the last 5,000+ years, Amazonite has served many purposes, making its appearance during the Bronze Age in Ancient Egyptian culture as a source of positive energy used to override evil & negativity, which was an important task when making the transition to the afterlife. It was so popular in Ancient Egypt that it was used in jewelry, amulets, funerary masks, & tomb decorations, as was the case with Tutankhamun's famous tomb, where an Amazonite ring & other decorations were found. There are connections between Amazonite & the cult of Osiris, since 'The Judgement of Osiris,' which is the 7th chapter in the Book of the Dead, was carved into slabs of Amazonite. Some scholars believe that the appeal of the cult of Osiris was inherent in the concept of an otherworldly afterlife. The Ancient Greeks also loved Amazonite, & like the Egyptians, used it to make jewelry. The Greeks linked it to Athena, the goddess of wisdom, courage, & inspiration. As a result, the stone came to represent good luck & prosperity. Much later during the Middle Ages, Amazonite was still a prized stone, & this time it was used to repel against evil spirits & sorcery. We are not sure where Amazonite was first discovered, but some link it to the Amazon River in Brazil, while others say it might be related to the famed Amazon tribe of women warriors. As a result of its historical applications, Amazonite is associated with promoting universal love & harmony, aiding in releasing toxic emotions, helping to overcome fear of judgment & confrontation, setting strong boundaries, & moving beyond past traumas. Believed to be connected to the 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra, Amazonite is thought to aid in clear communication & analytical thinking. In some regions of the world, Amazonite is the birthstone for March, & it is also connected to the zodiac sign of Virgo.

Apatite Found across many continents, traces of Apatite were even found in the moon rocks collected by astronauts during the Apollo program. Apatite gems are green or blue, & to the untrained eye, Apatite can be difficult to distinguish from other stones. For this reason, it was named after the Greek goddess Apate, whose name is derived from the Ancient Greek word for 'trickery.' Apatite is the birthstone for December, & it is associated with the Gemini, Libra, & Aquarius zodiac signs. Some relate Apatite with the planet Mercury, which rules communication & learning, which is why it's believed to enhance communication skills & public speaking.

Black Lava Rocks Associated with the 1st Chakra, or Root Chakra, Black Lava derives its color from the iron & magnesium-rich minerals that emerge from volcanoes, making it a very light but durable igneous rock. Strength, stability, & rebirth are often related to Black Lava, & some civilations have used it to build a strong connection to the Earth. Also known as basalt, Black Lava Rock is an integral part of the oral traditions passed down through generations of indigenous tribes in the areas around the northern Rocky Mountains in North America. One example is the Legend of the Serpent, which tells the story of a giant snake that circled & squeezed the mountains until liquid rock flowed down their slopes. Raw & primal, the energy of Black Lava Rock is associated with Cancer & Taurus zodiac signs. In areas that are now central México all the way down to Costa Rica, the Aztecs used Black Lava Rock for almost every activity in daily life, from creating calendars for telling time, molcajetes for cooking, statues for artistic expression, & metates for grinding corn. Perhaps there is a purpose that Black Lava serves in YOUR everyday life. 

Blue Lapis Lapis Lazuli, also known as Blue Lapis, has been historically associated with royalty, strength & courage, wisdom & intellect, & friendship & truth. From antiquity, Blue Lapis has been worn in the belief that it will ward off evil. Blue Lapis is also believed to represent the 6th Chakra, or Third Eye Chakra, where it is thought to bring harmony, love, & protection to relationships. In some parts of the world, Blue Lapis is one of the February birthstones, & it is also connected to the zodiac sign of Aquarius.

Carnelian Bronze Age artifacts using Carnelian found on the Greek island of Crete have been dated as far back as 1800 BCE. Throughout history, including during the Roman Empire, Carnelian has been associated with courage, vitality, & motivation. Known as the 'Stone of Motivation,' Carnelian is believed to inspire action, helping people overcome hesitation & procrastination. With its deep orange color, Carnelian is associated with the 2nd Chakra, or Sacral Chakra, which regulates creativity & sexuality. Carnelian is widely regarded as the birthstone for the zodiac sign of Virgo.

Citrine In Ancient Greece, Citrine was associated with bounty & abundance, so naturally Citrine was linked with Demeter, the Goddess of the harvest, fertility, & seasons. The Romans believed it could prevent evil thoughts, while the Ancient Egyptians thought that it contained the power of the sun, & used Citrine to ward off evil in general... & snake venom! Not surprisingly, many Eastern & Western cultures have gone on to link Citrine to wealth & success, which is not far off from the beliefs of the Ancient Greeks. Chinese emperors thought that Citrine not only attracted success, but it also somehow opened the mind & expanded consciousness, so still today it is a part of feng shui practices. Citrine had a big moment in the 1920s, & as a result we can find large Citrine stones in Art-Deco era jewelry. Citrine can be found today in many parts of the world, & Aries, Leo, Libra, Gemini, & Sagittarius are connected to Citrine. Aligned with the Solar Plexus Chakra, or 3rd Chakra, Citrine is believed to assist with empowerment, confidence, & the ability to manifest intentions. It's also the birthstone for those born in November.

Coconut Shells The coconut tree is often referred to as the “tree of heaven” due to its height & the beautiful environments in which it grows. Coconut palms have been cultivated for more than 3,000 years. The hard outer shell of the coconut is seen as a representation of ego. Breaking the coconut is symbolic of breaking one's ego, & letting go of pride & arrogance.

Green Jade Long associated with longevity, wealth, & abundance, Green Jade was used to make chimeras in Ancient China that protected the dead from evil spirits. Jadeite jewelry has been found in ruins from the Jomon period in Japan, which dates back 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. A symbol of power & wealth, Jade was declared Japan's national stone in 2016. Connected to the 4th Chakra, or Heart Chakra, Green Jade is connected with our ability to give & receive love, compassion, & balance. Related to the zodiac signs of Taurus, Libra, & Pisces, Green Jade is also the spiritual birthstone for March. Jade is believed to bring good fortune & luck to Taurus, while Jade is also said to complement Libra's quest for balance & justice & help Pisces temper their impulsiveness & encourage patience.

Howlite Considered by Native Americans to be the "White Buffalo Stone" with its porcelain white color and grey-ish veins, Howlite came to symbolize peace & purity. In Native American cultures, the rare white buffalo with a black nose, eyes, & hooves, a genetic anomaly, signifies spiritual connection & blessings. To the Lakota tribes, the calf's birth portends better times ahead. Lakota legend says about 2,000 years ago — when nothing was good, food was running out & bison were disappearing — White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared, presented a bowl pipe and a bundle to a tribal member, taught them how to pray, & said that the pipe could be used to bring buffalo to the area for food. As she left, she turned into a white buffalo calf. Most recently, a white buffalo calf was born on June 4, 2023, in Yellowstone National Park's Lamar Valley in Wyoming. The birth of the calf came after a particularly harsh winter when thousands of buffalo retreated to lower altitudes, much to their detriment. Chief Arval Looking Horse, the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Dakota, & Nakota Oyate tribes, said that the arrival of the blessed white buffalo calf means we must do more to protect the Earth & its animals. Looking Horse explained that the baby white buffalo's birth is similar in meaning to the Christians' second coming of Jesus Christ. Many believe Howlite contains calming properties, assisting with anger management, promoting patience, & encouraging emotional stability. Some use Howlite for meditation & relaxation, believing it can help quiet the mind & promote deep sleep. Associated with both the Root & Crown Chakras, or 1st & 7th Chakras, Howlite is thought to expand our spiritual awareness while amplifying our feelings of safety & security. 

Labradorite While there are many oral traditions about Labradorite, one of the most famous is that of an Inuit warrior who found a cave made of the stones. The Inuit warrior struck the fiery stone with his spear, releasing the vibrant colors into the sky, which created the Aurora Borealis. Labradorite symbolizes protection from the negativity of the world, & is linked to the 5th & 6th Chakras, or the Throat & Third Eye Chakras, assisting in free speech & higher knowledge. Some believe the zodiac sign of Cancer is drawn to the stone.

Malachite A type of copper ore, Malachite was used in ancient Egypt & Rome for pigments in paint & makeup. Supposedly Cleopatra used Malachite in her eye makeup, & it is also connected to the 4th & 5th Chakras, or Heart & Throat Chakras, where it is believed to nurture energetic balance. Malachite is known as the "stone of transformation," because it is said to reveal & heal emotional pain by absorbing the pain into itself, which could make it especially helpful in bringing harmony during times of change & providing insight needed for personal growth. Malachite is linked with the zodiac sign of Capricorn.

Moonstone Ancient Romans thought that Moonstone represented the different phases of the moon & associated it with their moon gods. There are indications that sailors also believed that Moonstone would keep them safe when traveling the open seas, & perhaps this is connected to another common application of keeping travelers safe along their journeys. In China, the fiery moonstone is thought to possess the energy of the moon, which embodies yin feminine energy. Moonstone is linked to the 7th Chakra, or Crown Chakra, which is said to help connect the mind to other dimensions. It is also linked to the 6th Chakra, or Third Eye Chakra, which is believed to facilitate innate wisdom & the ability to tap into intuition. Moonstone is one of the birthstones for the month of June.

Mother of Pearl A stress-relieving stone, Mother of Pearl has been used for centuries to signify heightened intuition, wisdom, imagination, sensitivity, & adaptability. Because it is linked to the 4th Chakra, or Heart Chakra, it is believed to help strengthen the heart & immune system. Some believe it opens the 6th (Third Eye) Chakra & 7th (Crown) Chakra, associating it with wisdom. Mother of Pearl is connected with the zodiac sign of Pisces.

Natural Shells People created the earliest-known jewelry from natural shells. There is evidence that people in modern-day Algeria, Israel, & Morocco drilled holes into marine shells to make beads 100,000 years ago. It is in these same areas of North Africa & the Middle East that shells came to symbolize life. In ancient mythology, the Goddess of Love & Fertility, Venus, is often depicted as rising from the sea in a clamshell. Perhaps you've seen Botticelli's painting from 1485?

Peridot Formed in the Earth's mantle & also found in space, Peridot was mined by Ancient Egyptians in the Red Sea, & it was believed to keep people safe at night. Ancient Egyptians called it the "gem of the sun," & used it to decorate all things decorative. Interestingly, Peridot is most certainly extraterrestrial, since it is found in Pallasite Meteorites that contain Olivine. ...Peridot is even mentioned in the Bible, and much later it was used in medieval times during the Crusades, particularly on religious objects. Then it became popular again with jewelry in the 1800s. Associated with the Heart & Solar Plexus Chakras, bringing alignment & balance to the upper & lower Chakras, so as to connect the earthly & spiritual realms. The birthstone for August, Peridot is thought to resonate with Leos & Virgos. 

Pink Coral Throughout history, Pink Coral has signified feminine fertility. Pink Coral represents love & harmony, & much like Red Coral, it is rare, only found in areas around the Mediterranean & the Sea of Japan.

Purple Fluorite Ancient Egyptians used Fluorite to make decorative beads, scarabs, & statues of gods. We have also found Fluorite objects in the ruins of Pompeii, a sophisticated Roman city that was tragically destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 CE. Purple Fluorite is said to cleanse & stabilize the aura. It is associated with the absorption & neutralization of negative energy & stress. Fluorite is linked to the 6th Chakra, or Third Eye Chakra, which signifies increasing visions & aiding in spiritual balance. Fluorite is aligned with the zodiac signs of Pisces & Capricorn, believed to promote impartiality for unbiased reasoning.

Red Coral Greek mythology explores the origin of Red Coral in the tale of Perseus. Perseus temporarily placed Medusa's head on a riverbank, where he witnessed her blood turn the seaweed into Red Coral. As a result, the Greek word for coral is 'Gorgeia,' since Medusa was one of the three Gorgons. The Romans hung pieces of coral around the necks of their children to shield them from illness & danger. Worn by a woman, coral was a charm against sterility. Red Coral signifies passion & courage, & it is linked to Mars, the planet believed to rule both the Aries & Scorpio zodiac signs.

Rhodonite The name Rhodonite comes from the Greek word 'rhodon' meaning 'rose' because of its color. Rhodonite is believed to encourage love & cooperation, so naturally it is connected to the 4th Chakra, or Heart Chakra. The clearing of emotional wounds & scars is associated with the healing power of Rhodonite.

Rose Quartz From the Greek myth about the famous lovers Aphrodite & Adonis, Rose Quartz became known as the stone of love & reconciliation. Aphrodite was cut by a thorn bush while saving Adonis from an attack by her jealous ex-lover Ares, who disguised himself as a wild boar. The blood of Aphrodite & Adonis combined & stained white quartz, making it a rose-pink color that caught the attention of Zeus. Zeus showed compassion, & thus brought Adonis back to Aphrodite for 6 months every year. Believed to emit strong vibrations of love, Rose Quartz is known as a healing crystal & the stone of unconditional love. Ancient Egyptians associated Rose Quartz with Isis, the goddess of love, fertility, healing, & the moon. As a result, Rose Quartz represented a source of eternal youth. Rose Quartz is most closely associated with the zodiac sign of Taurus, which is an Earth sign ruled by Venus.

Serpentine We have evidence that Serpentine was used by Sumerians & Assyrians in Mesopotamia to imprint designs on clay. Serpentine was also carved into valuable statues & vessels. Its green color cherished the world over, it was used to make jewelry & decorate just about anything of value. The Maori people believed that Serpentine came from the tears of a woman, & so used it for sacred & symbolic objects. Its history is truly extensive, and we know that many indigenous cultures employed Serpentine in rituals to communicate with spirits. Used as offerings to Gods & Goddesses, Serpentine is connected with protection against negativity of all kinds, even snakebites. If you’ve been to Florence, you may have noticed that Serpentine is often used in Renaissance architecture, especially inlays on church facades. All things considered, Serpentine is a product of powerful energies, known in geologic terms as an ultramafic rock, found in areas where the Earth’s crust collides. Associated with the heart & solar plexus chakras, Serpentine is believed to open & activate these energy centers, allowing for a greater flow of love, compassion, & personal power.

Turquoise Ancient Egyptian tombs have provided the earliest evidence of Turquoise gemstones used in jewelry, dating back to 3000 BCE. King Tutankhamun’s iconic burial mask is an example of the Egyptians' extravagant love for the gem. The oldest Turquoise mines are located on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. One in particular is situated near an ancient temple dedicated to Hathor, the Greek goddess of love & joy who was worshiped as a protector in the desert & as the patron saint of mining. Perhaps this is why the Egyptians named Turquoise "mefkat," which means “joy” & “delight.” Ancient Aztecs valued Turquoise for its perceived power of protection & used it to decorate ceremonial masks, knives, & shields. Also believing that Turquoise was a source of protection, Persians adorned their necks, turbans, daggers, & horses’ bridles with it. The Persians named Turqouise "pirouzeh," which means “victory.” Later on, when Turkish traders introduced this “Persian blue” stone to Europe via the Silk Road in the 13th century, this influenced the gemstone’s western name. The word “turquoise” comes from the French phrase "pierre tourques," which means “Turkish stone.” Meanwhile, pre-Columbian Native Americans mined the Turquoise stone throughout areas that are now the southwestern United States. Native American Shamans used it in sacred ceremonies to communicate with the spirit of the sky. Apache Native Americans thought that attaching turquoise to bows improved accuracy. Turquoise is linked to the 5th Chakra, or Throat Chakra, & is said to help improve communication & public speaking. Turquoise is the birthstone of December & is associated with the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.